Underwater collision forces BP to remove containment cap

By the CNN Wire Staff June 23, 2010 3:15 p.m. EDT

New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) — After a day of record crude collection, BP suffered a significant setback Wednesday when a undersea robot accidentally bumped a vent, shutting it off and forcing the company to remove the containment cap through which oil from an undersea gusher in the Gulf of Mexico was being siphoned.

BP noticed gas rising through the vent that prohibits hydrates or ice-like crystals from forming in the cap, said Adm. Thad Allen, the government’s response manager. Allen said BP removed the cap at 9:45 a.m.

If no hydrates are found, the oil company plans to reinstall the cap later Wednesday.

“If there are hydrates they will probably have to rerun the pipeline and that will take a considerable amount longer,” Allen said.

BP’s secondary collection system via the Q4000 vessel was ongoing. That system collected 10,425 barrels — about 438,000 gallons — on Tuesday.

But a majority of the oil collected was through the cap. BP said Tuesday that it collected 25,830 barrels — 1.08 million gallons — of oil from the gushing undersea well over the past 24 hours — the most yet collected in a single 24-hour period.

Government estimates indicate as much as 60,000 barrels — 2.5 million gallons — of oil has been flowing into the Gulf every day since an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig April 20 triggered the spill. The gusher has already taken a serious toll on tourism and the fishing industry in Gulf Coast states.

Meanwhile two people involved in the oil disaster response were reported to have died in Alabama, Allen said.

According to the Baldwin County Coroners office, William Allen Kruse, a boat captain working on clean up, died of a gunshot wound. The other death was described by Allen as a swimming accident.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families,” Allen said. “We know this is a devastating thing to happen.”

Also Wednesday, BP put on a new public face by tapping its managing director to lead a new and permanent Gulf of Mexico oil disaster organization.

Bob Dudley, a native of Mississippi, was appointed president and chief executive officer of BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organization, BP said in a statement.

Dudley said the new organization was designed to enable BP to push more of the company’s resources toward the overall recovery effort and to make sure the claims process is transferred smoothly to Kenneth Feinberg, the independent director of BP’s $20 billion compensation fund.

“Meantime, we’ll continue to write the checks, pay the claims and make sure that we’re there for a long time, many years, not only after the well is stopped, but the clean-up,” Dudley told CNN’s American Morning. “This is the first step.”

Speculation had abounded that BP’s top executive, Tony Hayward, would step aside after a grilling in Congress last week and criticism over public relations gaffes.

Hayward angered Gulf Coast residents when he was quoted as saying he wanted his life back. He didn’t do himself any favors by attending a tony yacht race over the weekend, just two days after testifying before a Congressional panel that he was not responsible for well design and operation decisions made before the April 20 explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform.

Dudley will still report to Hayward, who remains as BP’s group chief executive, but he will be the new point man in the daily disaster response. Hayward said in BP’s statement Wednesday that Dudley has “a deep appreciation and affinity for the Gulf Coast.”

Dudley defended Hayward, as well as BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg, who caused a stir when he said his company “cared about small people.”

“Both of those men are … deeply disturbed by what’s happened in the Gulf, and fully committed to making sure that BP meets all of its commitments,” Dudley said. “They may have said the wrong things.”

Dudley said his main job, however, was not public relations but “to listen very, very closely to the governors, people along the Gulf Coast and in Washington to make sure we respond as quickly as we can.”

Meanwhile, the debate over a deepwater drilling moratorium continued Wednesday, withthe White House vowing to move quickly to issue a new ban on that type of drilling.

IInterior Secretary Ken Salazar told a Senate panel that he would look into issuing a new, less restrictive drilling ban in the near future as he made a case for a pause on drilling until the cause for the BP spill is fully understood.

He promised it would include evidence that “eliminates any doubt that a moratorium is needed, appropriate, and within our authorities.”

“We will in the weeks and months ahead take a look at how it is that the moratorium in place might be refined,” said Salazar, testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

A federal judge in New Orleans issued an injunction Tuesday on the six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling, imposed by President Barack Obama after the Gulf spill.

Brian Collins, an attorney for the Justice Department, insisted Monday that the suspension is necessary while officials conduct a safety review.

But a group of companies that provides boats and equipment to the offshore drilling industry filed a lawsuit claiming the government has no evidence that existing operations pose a threat to the Gulf of Mexico and asked the court to declare the moratorium invalid and unenforceable.

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman in New Orleans agreed, writing in his ruling, “an invalid agency decision to suspend drilling of wells in depths of over 500 feet simply cannot justify the immeasurable effect on the plaintiffs, the local economy, the Gulf region, and the critical present-day aspect of the availability of domestic energy in this country.”

Testifying with Salazar on industry oversight and regulation, the man charged with reforming the troubled agency formerly known as the Minerals Management Service vowed to he would do all he could to root out “shocking behavior” within the agency that he hopes is not pervasive.

Michael Bromwich, head of the new Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, told lawmakers he would focus on industry oversight and ridding the agency of corruption.

“If it’s severe enough, they should lose their jobs,” Bromwich said of employees’ improper behavior.

Meanwhile, a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean raised fears of a stronger storm forming and heading possibly to oil-affected areas in the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center said the disorganized storm had a 30 percent chance of intensifying.

Allen said he spoke with Dudley about plans to get the two BP oil recovery ships disconnected from the well and moved off scene. Allen said the Discovery Enterprise crew needs six or seven days advance notice to evacuate.

“That means we’re going to have to look at the tracks of these storms, these probabilities and have to act very early on,” Allen said.

Senators Challenge Obama on Rumors of Amnesty through Executive Order

Several Senators have learned of a possible plan by the Obama Administration that would provide a mass Amnesty for the nation’s 11-18 million illegal aliens. Led by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), eight Senators addressed a letter to the President asking for answers to questions about a plan that would allow DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano to provide an amnesty if they can’t secure enough votes for a bill in the Senate.

The letter that was sent to Pres. Obama earlier today asks the President for clarification on the use of deferred action or parole for illegal aliens. The executive actions are typically used in special cases and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but if 60 votes can’t be secured in the Senate to pass a mass Amnesty, the Administration may attempt to use the discretionary actions as an alternative.

We understand that there’s a push for your Administration to develop a plan to unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal aliens in the United States. We understand that the Administration may include aliens who have willfully overstayed their visas or filed for benefits knowing that they will not be eligible for a status for years to come. We understand that deferred action and parole are discretionary actions reserved for individual cases that present unusual, emergent or humanitarian circumstances. Deferred action and parole were not intended to be used to confer a status or offer protection to large groups of illegal aliens, even if the agency claims that they look at each case on a “case-by-case” basis.

While we agree our immigration laws need to be fixed, we are deeply concerned about the potential expansion of deferred action or parole for a large illegal alien population. While deferred action and parole are Executive Branch authorities, they should not be used to circumvent Congress’ constitutional authority to legislate immigration policy, particularly as it relates to the illegal population in the United States.

The Administration would be wise to abandon any plans for deferred action or parole for the illegal population. Such a move would further erode the American public’s confidence in the federal government and its commitment to securing the borders and enforcing the laws already on the books.

We would appreciate receiving a commitment that the Administration has no plans to use either authority to change the current position of a large group of illegal aliens already in the United States, and ask that you respond to us about this matter as soon as possible.

WASHINGTON – Several U.S. senators today questioned possible plans by the administration to unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal immigrants in the United States. Senator Chuck Grassley was joined by Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah, Jim Bunning of Ky., Saxby Chambliss of Ga., Jim Inhofe of Okla., Johnny Isakson of Ga., Thad Cochran of Miss., and David Vitter of La.

“There’s a lot we can agree on when it comes to dealing with the immigration problems in the United States, but this appears to be amnesty in disguise, and is simply an attempt to circumvent Congress,” Grassley said.

A Presidential or “Executive” Order granting a mass “amnesty” to the illegals would be unconstitutional. Congress would have recourse through the Federal Courts, including the Supreme Court to have such an “Order” set aside, just as the citizens of the Gulf had Obama’s Oil Drilling Moratorium set aside.

Read my posts concerning the Obama Administration’s disdain for our Constitution at the seperation of powers that it mandates.

General McChrystal just entered the building for his meeting with President.

My thoughts ands questions follow:

1) Who imbedded this journalist? Who authorized it? Which Pentagon Official or Obama Administration Official is responsible? I doubt McChrystal called Rolling Stone and suggested they send someone over for a few months.

2), McChrystal was in a bar in Paris. While a 4 star General is never really “on leave” this is as close as it gets. How did the “journalist” get to the same bar? Did he ride with McChrystal and his staff to the bar or did he wander in and sit in a booth near them and then join them after they had “had a few”/

McChrystal is the best General this country has. A consummate tactician and true warrior. His record of service to this Country can be matched by few.

Whatever is said, he has served this country with honor.

McChrystal knows the rules.

I’m sure he appreciated the consequences of his actions beforehand.

Did you understand what the General’s action implies.

The General’s criticisms of the Obama Administration were unartfully worded, but accurate. From the Ambassadors to its retired Military Advisors, the Obama Administration is mishandling the war and this country’s foreign affairs.

A General cannot publicly criticize his Commander in Chief and until now I believe General McChrystal has done his best to keep his silence, even though he is severely undermanned for the mission that needs to be accomplished. (Example: The Obama Administration is doing nothing to stop the flow of equipment and fighters from Iran into Afghanistan)

Is it possible that after considering the safety of his troops in the field and balancing his perception of the safety of the Country as a whole, General McChrystal is using this magazine article to speak out?

The country will lose a great General today.

I hope we hear from the loyal American citizen, Mr. Stanley McChrystal, tomorrow.

Yesterday, a Federal Court Judge struck down the Obama’s Administration’s moratorium on “off shore drilling”. Immediately after the Judge’s ruling was issued the Obama Administration announce two things: That an Appeal would be taken to the Federal Appeals Court, and that Interior Secretary Ken Salzar would issue a “new regulation” that would “reinstate” the moratorium.

Our Constitution is based on a system of checks and balances. Our system of government is based on having three equal branches of Government. No one branch is all powerful.

Our Court system has an established, constitutionally approved, process for appealing Court decisions. The Obama Administration’s decision to pursue an appeal is a decision that falls within the framework of our form of Government.

One role of the Courts or Judicial Branch is to interpret the actions of the Congress and the President or Executive Branch and to strike down any actions taken by the Congress or the Executive Branch that are illegal or unconstitutional.

The Obama Administration issued a moratorium. The people of the Gulf States opposed the President’s action in Court. Arguments in support of and in opposition to the moratorium were presented to the Court. Under our system of Government, the Court listens to the evidence the sides submit during the course of the trial (or hearing in this case) and withholds making any decisions until the opposing sides finish or “close” their cases. This is exactly what happened in this instance.

Now the Secretary of the Interior States he will “reinstate” the Moratorium and “provide additional facts”. The time to present facts was during the trial.

What the Obama Administration is really saying is this; We don’t acknowledge any Constitutional limitation on our power. We, the Executive Branch, are all knowing and all powerful. Court decision be damned, you, the people, will not drill in the gulf.

This is the thinking of an Empire. This is the thinking of a Dictator. This is not how the Executive Branch in a Constitutional Republic operates.

I have a suggestion for the Federal Judge? Find Secretary Salazar to be in contempt of Court.

If you oppose the Obama Administration, that Administration will treat you with contempt.

(CNN) – A federal judge in New Orleans, Louisiana, has blocked a six-month federal moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf.

Several dozen plaintiffs had sued President Barack Obama’s administration, arguing the ban would create long-term economic harm to their businesses. Obama ordered the moratorium after the April 20 explosion of an oil rig off Louisiana that killed 11 people and triggered an underwater oil gusher.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says the government will immediately appeal the ruling to the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

A federal judge in New Orleans on Tuesday blocked a six-month moratorium on new deepwater drilling projects imposed in response to the massive Gulf oil spill.

The White House promised an immediate appeal. President Obama’s administration had halted approval of any new permits for deepwater drilling and suspended drilling of 33 exploratory wells in the Gulf.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama believes strongly that drilling at such depths does not make any sense and puts the safety of workers “at a danger that the president does not believe we can afford.”

Several companies that ferry people and supplies and provide other services to offshore drilling rigs asked U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman in New Orleans to overturn the moratorium, arguing it was arbitrarily imposed.

Feldman agreed, saying in his ruling the Interior Department seemed to assume that because one rig failed, all companies and rigs doing deepwater drilling pose an imminent danger.

“An invalid agency decision to suspend drilling of wells in depths of over 500 feet simply cannot justify the immeasurable effect on the plaintiffs, the local economy, the Gulf region, and the critical present-day aspect of the availability of domestic energy in this country,” Feldman wrote.

The moratorium was imposed after the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that killed 11 workers and blew out the well that has spewed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf.

The Interior Department said it needed time to study the risks of deepwater drilling. But the lawsuit filed by Hornbeck Offshore Services of Covington, La., claimed there was no proof the other operations posed a threat.

Company CEO Todd Hornbeck said after the ruling that he is looking forward to getting back to work.

“It’s the right thing for not only the industry but ththe country,” he said.

The moratorium was declared May 6 and originally was to last only through the month. Obama announced May 27 that he was extending it for six months.

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal and corporate leaders have said the moratorium will force drilling rigs leaving the Gulf of Mexico for lucrative business in foreign waters.

They say the loss of business will cost the area thousands of lucrative jobs, most paying more than $50,000 a year. The state’s other major economic sector, tourism, is a largely low-wage industry.

In its response to the lawsuit, the Interior Department said the moratorium is necessary as attempts to stop the leak and clean the Gulf continue and new safety standards are developed.

“A second deepwater blowout could overwhelm the efforts to respond to the current disaster,” the Interior Department said.

The government also challenged contentions the moratorium will lead to long-term economic harm. Although 33 deepwater drilling sites were affected, there are still 3,600 oil and natural gas production platforms in the Gulf.

Catherine Wannamaker, a lawyer for environmental groups that intervened in the case and supported the moratorium, called the ruling “a step in the wrong direction.”

“We think it overlooks the ongoing harm in the Gulf, the devastation it has had on people’s lives,” she said. “The harm at issue with the Deepwater Horizon spill is bigger than just the Louisiana economy. It affects all of the Gulf.”

Update: Salazar seeks to reimpose drilling moratorium

June 22, 2010, 7:24PM

WASHINGTON — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says he will issue a new order imposing a moratorium on deepwater drilling after a federal judge struck down the existing one.

Salazar said in a statement Tuesday evening that the new order will contain additional information making clear why the six-month drilling pause was necessary in the wake of the Gulf oil spill. The judge in New Orleans who struck down the moratorium earlier in the day complained there wasn’t enough justification for it.

Salazar pointed to indications of inadequate safety precautions by industry on deepwater wells. He said he would issue a new order in the coming days showing that a moratorium is needed.

McAuleysworld Comments:Just another example of how the Obama Administration is trying to create an Imperial Presidency. An Imperial Presidency is one where the President assumes the power of an Emperor – A single ruler with unlimited power and unlimited authority. Power and authority taken from the people not granted by the people.The Obama Administration views itself as an Imperial Presidency – with President Obama as the omnipotent autocrat – possessing unlimited power, unlimited authority and unrestrained by Constitutional limitations. An autocrat free to ignore his oath to “protect and defend the constitution”, free to selectively enforce or ignore the laws of the land as he chooses, free to implement his policies without the advise or consent of the Congress or the American people.

Ancient Rome started as a Republic. Like the United States, the Roman Republic was founded after the overthrow of a monarchy. The Roman Republic was based on a Constitution which honored the principles of separation of powers, of a need for a system of checks and balances within the Government.

The end of the Roman Republic was brought about by the Roman leaders who “transitioned” Rome, leaders who “fundamentally transformed” Rome from a Republic to an Imperial State. A state ruled by autocratic Emperors. The Emperors were men who subverted the Roman Constitution for their own power, for their own political gain. The Emperor’s usurped the powers granted to the Roman Senate and Legislative Assembly and after consolidating their power proclaimed themselves perpetual dictators.

Obama acted unilaterally in imposing his “drilling moratorium”. The people of the Gulf States successfully challenged Obama’s actions in the Federal Court, remember the Court or Judiciary is a Branch of Government with power equal to the President and his Executive Branch. In our system of checks and balances the Executive Branch is free to “Appeal” the Federal Court’s decision to a higher Court or to ask Congress to enact a law implementing a moratorium, however, our Constitution not empower the Executive Branch to ignore the Federal Court decision as the Obama Administration is intent on doing.

In stating that the Administration simply intends to issue “A new regulation to replace the old one” the Obama Administration is saying, we don’t like the Court’s decision, so we won’t obey it. We don’t acknowledge that we are governed by the separation of powers enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, that this Administration’s powers supersede those of the Congress and the Judiciary and we will not be bound by the Constitutional limitation of powers imposed on our Administration by the Constitution.

Reich –noun – 1. (with reference to Germany) empire; realm; nation. First Reich – The Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806. Second Reich: the German Empire 1871–1919. Third Reich Germany during the Nazi regime 1933–45.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reich